For Bruins senior, end is near on mat

This weekend marks Layne Hatcher’s last time on a wrestling mat.

The Pulaski Academy senior will end his wrestling career at the high school wrestling state tournament today and Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

Hatcher is the state’s alltime leader in victories with 235. He’s won three state

championships as a wrestler (170 pounds in 2015, 182 pounds in 2016, 195 pounds in 2017).

Oklahoma State, one of the country’s top wrestling programs, offered Hatcher a scholarship. However, Hatcher, a four-time state championship quarterback and three-year starter for the Bruins’ football team, will play football at Arkansas State University.

“It was hard to let go [of wrestling after high school],” Hatcher said. “But in my heart, it’s what I wanted to do.”

For Hatcher this week, he said it’s bittersweet to be leaving wrestling, but he is looking forward to competing in his fourth and final state tournament.

“I’m trying to enjoy it, for sure,” Hatcher said. “I’m ready to go to work on Friday.”

This weekend, 49 schools will compete in the state tournament featuring more than 500 athletes. Six mats are in use at the Stephens Center.

Wrestling through championship quarterfinals will be completed today with Class 1A-5A on mats 1, 2 and 3 and Class 6A-7A on mats 4, 5 and 6. Championship semifinals start at 9 a.m. Saturday, with Class 1A-5A on mats 1 and 2 and Class 6A-7A on mats 5 and 6. Championship finals

will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with Class 1A-5A on mat 2 and Class 6A-7A on mat 5.

Pulaski Academy will attempt to win its first team championship. The Bruins finished second to Greenbrier the past two seasons and seniors Michael Crockett (132 pounds), James Noel (182 pounds) and Allen Amuimuia (285 pounds) are also returning state champions.

Hatcher said he hopes that he not only wins an individual state championship, but a team title as well.

“We’re in the best shape we can be in,” Hatcher said. “We’ve used that motivation from the past two years, for sure. We’ve turned it up a notch this year. We think we’ve got a great shot.”

Tournament director Greg Hatcher, Layne’s father, has been taking his son to wrestling tournaments since he was 6 years old competing in the Mighty Bluebirds program. He said that when his son started wrestling, it wasn’t fun for him, but as he’s grown up, Greg has seen Layne enjoy the sport.

Greg Hatcher understands what’s at stake for his son this weekend.

“He’s got a chance to win four football state titles and four wrestling state titles,” Greg Hatcher said. “We haven’t done the research, but I don’t think it’s been done. That will be a neat thing.”